The criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire has reached a significant milestone, with the Metropolitan Police submitting its full case files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The CPS has been asked to consider potential charges against 54 individuals and 20 companies and organisations following the fire that killed 72 people in June 2017.
Potential offences being considered include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence,, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office.
The CPS has said it expects to make its charging decisions before the tenth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2027.
The scale of the Grenfell investigation
The figures released by the Metropolitan Police demonstrate the extraordinary scale of the investigation.
Police have examined the roles of more than 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations. Investigators have gathered around 165 million electronic files, taken 14,700 statements and retained more than 27,000 exhibits.
The evidence submitted to prosecutors includes 20 principal files relating to the companies, organisations and individuals under investigation, together with 14 overarching evidence files.
The Met described the submission as a major milestone after nine years of investigative work.
A continuing focus on accountability
The development comes two years after the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry identified extensive failures surrounding the refurbishment and management of the building.
While the CPS must now independently determine whether criminal charges should be brought, the latest development again highlights the level of scrutiny that can follow failures in building and fire safety.
For those responsible for buildings today, it reinforces the importance of being able to demonstrate not simply that safety procedures exist, but that they are implemented, monitored and properly evidenced.
Building safety must be demonstrable
The regulatory environment has changed considerably since the Grenfell Tower fire.
Greater emphasis is now placed on accountability, competence, accurate information and maintaining reliable records throughout the life of a building.
This is where the principles behind the Golden Thread of information become particularly important.
Fire safety measures, inspections, remedial works and changes to a building should be documented in a way that allows responsible parties to understand what has been done, why it was done and who was responsible.
For passive fire protection in particular, that means maintaining clear evidence around elements including fire doors, compartmentation, fire stopping and penetration sealing.
Compliance should never depend upon assumptions.
At ember, we help clients understand, manage and evidence fire safety and compliance across their buildings. Through specialist fire consultancy and compliance support, we help identify risks, establish appropriate measures and provide the clear, documented evidence needed to demonstrate that fire safety responsibilities are being properly managed.
The latest Grenfell development is another powerful reminder that accountability does not end with having procedures in place. Building owners, responsible persons and dutyholders need to be able to demonstrate that fire safety measures are appropriate, maintained and supported by reliable evidence.
Fire contained. Compliance proven.
Source: Construction News, 30 September 2026; Metropolitan Police.
